Connecticut western news., 1887-02-02
A MOTHERS VISION.

"there's Willie in the parlor again with his muddy boots, and Jennie has finger ed the woodwork of the piano all over, see, that I polished so nicely only yesterday. know the door of the spare room has been left open, too, for the muslin curtains are pulled all away, where pussy must have frolicked in the folds; and, dear, dear, there's Jack this minute with his feet in that stuffed chair!"
 lI"Come, come, mother, I wouldn't fret" said easy MT. Jewett: ''the children must put their feet somewhere. and I suppose kittens will be kittens and fly about where they can find the most fun.''
 "oh, yes," rejoined Mrs. Jewett, '1ts very easy for you father, to think children and cats can go where they like and do what they please. Pm not fretting, but it's hard work to sweep and polish, and do clear-s starching; and men never did know and never will know anything about the work of housekeeper and mother"
 So saying, Mrs. Jewett, with her fair, pretty face all in wrinkles, went out of the room with worried:
 "Oh, dear!"
 And her husband looked after her with compassionate:
 ''Poor mother"
 Naturally Mrs. Jewett was of happy disposition, but like many another fond, faithful mother, she was unconsciously falling into the habit of worrying over the inevitable faults and thoughtlessness of her children.
 She was scrupulously neat house. keeper, and as her things had not come as easily as they do to many others, they acquired all the more value and impor- tance in her eyes, once they came into her possession.
 But the usual restlessness of boys and girls, and even poor capering kitty herself, was fast developing into Mrs. Jewett that irri ritating fretfulness and impatience which kills true happiness and comfort in many home, and where the mothers real object is to make all as comfortable and happy as possible.
 In vain MT. Jewett hinted that things were always going wrong, somehow, and thnt there was no end of peevishness and fault finding taking root in his family.
 At such times Mrs. Jewett would shed tears and declare no one could do more than spend all their time and energies for the welfare of their family, as she did.
 One morning the curtains were discov cred to have been rolled up all to one side, while the summer sunshine was flooding, with its wholesome light, the bright pattern of the new Brussels car- pet. Jennie and Carrie had left their school books scattered around on the chairs, and Jacks muddy boots stood in the middle of the floor.
 Mrs. Jewett burst into a tiade of dis pleasure, but the children wepe out of hearing, so instead of judiciously and patiently calling them in and obliging them to put things in their places, she began putting things to rights herself, allowing Mir. Jewett, as frequently hap pened, to bear the brunt of her displeas- ure, and for once his good nature gave way, and he said, pettishly:
 q declare, wife, it is thousand pit ies there are any children here to bother you so."
 Mrs. Jewett made no reply, but going to her room she sat down for a moment to consider whether or not her husband meant what he had just said.
 But by degrees the room faded from hel vision, the house became quiet--terribly quiet-the sunlight died out, and shade and stiffness reigned supreme. There were footsteps heard, but pushed, creeping, awed. All of active life had ceased even the kitty had taken herself off, and was no i where to be seen,
 Mrs. Jewett reused herself, and went from kitchen to dining-room, from dining-room to parlor. The invariable order was oppressive.
 The curtains were rolled with exact evenness; not the finest line of sunlight could pierce through crack or crevice of the nicely adjusted shutters.
 Every book was in it's place; the chairs as guiltless of dust as if just cleaned, and the unblurred polish of the piano reflected each undisturbed orna ment and object in it's vicinity.
 But the children! OR the children!
 A great appalling throb of apprehen sion and whitening pain shot unre- pressed through the mothers heart al the mention of their name.
 Where was winsome--no longer mischievous but winsome-Willie?
 Where pray, were sportive Carrie and lively Jenniea Where, too, bounding, lov ing little Jack2 "Yes," she said, vaguely pecring about in the sunless gloom where are my precious children2'
 She left dining room and parlor and went from one child's chamber to al